1 00:00:01,958 --> 00:00:05,083 - [Dan narrating] 2 00:00:08,250 --> 00:00:13,083 [intriguing dramatic music] 3 00:00:14,167 --> 00:00:16,124 What if I told you there's a fearless man 4 00:00:16,125 --> 00:00:18,124 who tugs heavy machinery with 5 00:00:18,125 --> 00:00:21,082 a rather delicate appendage? 6 00:00:21,083 --> 00:00:24,166 - This man is going to pull this eight-ton semi-truck, 7 00:00:24,167 --> 00:00:25,749 but not with his body, not with his legs. 8 00:00:25,750 --> 00:00:27,124 [intriguing dramatic music] 9 00:00:27,125 --> 00:00:29,416 - What he's actually gonna do is a lot stranger. 10 00:00:29,417 --> 00:00:31,207 [spectators clamoring] [intriguing dramatic music] 11 00:00:31,208 --> 00:00:32,916 - Or that a drunken double dare 12 00:00:32,917 --> 00:00:36,082 turned a city street into a landing strip? 13 00:00:36,083 --> 00:00:37,374 - He has no lights on, 14 00:00:37,375 --> 00:00:40,082 no radio contact with air traffic control. 15 00:00:40,083 --> 00:00:43,624 - This landing would be impossible for a sober pilot, 16 00:00:43,625 --> 00:00:46,417 but this guy has been pounding drinks. 17 00:00:47,292 --> 00:00:48,999 - How about an elderly lion 18 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,082 who loves his way into the record books? 19 00:00:52,083 --> 00:00:54,166 - He's arthritic, he's so toothless, 20 00:00:54,167 --> 00:00:56,791 that his tongue just hangs out of his mouth. 21 00:00:56,792 --> 00:00:59,999 - When Frasier limps his way over, 22 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:02,542 suddenly, the lionesses all perk up. 23 00:01:03,833 --> 00:01:06,791 - Before you know it, there's lion cubs everywhere. 24 00:01:06,792 --> 00:01:08,124 [intriguing dramatic music] 25 00:01:08,125 --> 00:01:10,666 - These are the feats so astonishing, 26 00:01:10,667 --> 00:01:11,832 they are truly 27 00:01:11,833 --> 00:01:12,874 "Unbelievable." 28 00:01:12,875 --> 00:01:16,500 [cinematic dramatic music] 29 00:01:25,250 --> 00:01:27,874 Some war stories are hard to believe, 30 00:01:27,875 --> 00:01:30,249 but this one's impossible to forget. 31 00:01:30,250 --> 00:01:33,041 It's a tale of one man, one mission, 32 00:01:33,042 --> 00:01:35,041 and one of the most impressive achievements 33 00:01:35,042 --> 00:01:36,957 in military history. 34 00:01:36,958 --> 00:01:38,082 [intriguing dramatic music] 35 00:01:38,083 --> 00:01:40,082 - It's April of 1945, 36 00:01:40,083 --> 00:01:42,374 a 24-year-old Canadian recon sniper 37 00:01:42,375 --> 00:01:44,082 by the name of Leo Major, 38 00:01:44,083 --> 00:01:46,916 along with his buddy, Corporal Welly Arsenault, 39 00:01:46,917 --> 00:01:48,207 are crawling on their bellies 40 00:01:48,208 --> 00:01:50,249 on the outskirts of Zwolle, Netherlands, 41 00:01:50,250 --> 00:01:52,874 in an attempt to gain information 42 00:01:52,875 --> 00:01:55,041 about Nazi troops in the area 43 00:01:55,042 --> 00:01:57,041 with the hopes that a larger force 44 00:01:57,042 --> 00:02:00,082 will then liberate the town from Nazi control. 45 00:02:00,083 --> 00:02:03,541 [dramatic thud] - Major is a war-hardened vet. 46 00:02:03,542 --> 00:02:07,166 Just after D-Day, he took a phosphorus grenade to the face, 47 00:02:07,167 --> 00:02:08,749 and actually lost an eye. 48 00:02:08,750 --> 00:02:10,874 An injury like that could have gotten a soldier 49 00:02:10,875 --> 00:02:12,374 a ticket home, 50 00:02:12,375 --> 00:02:16,041 but Major insists he only needs one eye to shoot 51 00:02:16,042 --> 00:02:17,374 as many Germans as he can. 52 00:02:17,375 --> 00:02:19,166 [intriguing dramatic music] 53 00:02:19,167 --> 00:02:22,791 - This is supposed to be exclusively a recon mission. 54 00:02:22,792 --> 00:02:26,207 Identify where the Germans are, how many there are of them, 55 00:02:26,208 --> 00:02:27,666 and that is that. 56 00:02:27,667 --> 00:02:32,291 It's not supposed to be an active combat situation. 57 00:02:32,292 --> 00:02:33,957 - [Dan] But the Germans spot them, 58 00:02:33,958 --> 00:02:35,374 and in an instant, 59 00:02:35,375 --> 00:02:37,458 the recon mission explodes into a firefight. 60 00:02:38,500 --> 00:02:41,166 - Major and Arsenault begin shooting. 61 00:02:41,167 --> 00:02:43,124 [firearms banging] [pensive dramatic music] 62 00:02:43,125 --> 00:02:47,457 Now pretty quickly, Arsenault gets shot twice. 63 00:02:47,458 --> 00:02:49,582 Major takes out two more Germans before turning 64 00:02:49,583 --> 00:02:52,624 his full attention to his buddy, Arsenault, 65 00:02:52,625 --> 00:02:54,041 who is dead. 66 00:02:54,042 --> 00:02:55,374 [dramatic thud] 67 00:02:55,375 --> 00:02:58,416 - Major has lost people in combat before, 68 00:02:58,417 --> 00:03:00,875 but now, he's lost his best friend. 69 00:03:01,750 --> 00:03:03,125 This is personal. 70 00:03:04,208 --> 00:03:06,541 Major decides to take revenge 71 00:03:06,542 --> 00:03:11,207 and demolish the entire German garrison all by himself. 72 00:03:11,208 --> 00:03:12,666 [intense dramatic music] 73 00:03:12,667 --> 00:03:14,957 - Major has done some shockingly brave stuff before, 74 00:03:14,958 --> 00:03:19,374 but to attempt to liberate a town entirely by yourself, 75 00:03:19,375 --> 00:03:22,457 that has suicide mission written all over it. 76 00:03:22,458 --> 00:03:24,957 - [Dan] Instead of going in guns blazing, 77 00:03:24,958 --> 00:03:26,832 Major takes a different approach. 78 00:03:26,833 --> 00:03:28,374 [dramatic thud] 79 00:03:28,375 --> 00:03:30,916 - He spots a German officer's adjutant, the attendant, 80 00:03:30,917 --> 00:03:33,499 outside of a tavern. 81 00:03:33,500 --> 00:03:37,582 He sneaks up behind him with his pistol, disarms him, 82 00:03:37,583 --> 00:03:40,417 and says, "Take me to your boss." 83 00:03:41,417 --> 00:03:42,832 - When he comes face to face 84 00:03:42,833 --> 00:03:45,082 with this senior German officer, 85 00:03:45,083 --> 00:03:48,332 Major acts like he's doing the guy a favor. 86 00:03:48,333 --> 00:03:50,541 He tells him that the Canadian forces 87 00:03:50,542 --> 00:03:53,541 are ready to pummel this town, 88 00:03:53,542 --> 00:03:56,417 and he says, if he wants to save German lives, 89 00:03:57,458 --> 00:04:00,250 they need to leave now. 90 00:04:01,083 --> 00:04:02,124 - Major doesn't really know 91 00:04:02,125 --> 00:04:03,374 if he is dealing with somebody 92 00:04:03,375 --> 00:04:05,041 that is gonna take his warning to heart, 93 00:04:05,042 --> 00:04:07,124 or is he just going to stand firm 94 00:04:07,125 --> 00:04:09,707 and follow the orders of the Fuhrer? 95 00:04:09,708 --> 00:04:13,207 - This is a spectacularly crazy move, 96 00:04:13,208 --> 00:04:15,999 but this officer doesn't understand 97 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:19,374 why anybody would just give up this information. 98 00:04:19,375 --> 00:04:21,666 So he presumes this guy must have 99 00:04:21,667 --> 00:04:25,041 some very serious backup nearby. 100 00:04:25,042 --> 00:04:26,541 - As a final power move, 101 00:04:26,542 --> 00:04:29,374 Major hands the sidearm back to the driver 102 00:04:29,375 --> 00:04:31,041 and then disappears into the night. 103 00:04:31,042 --> 00:04:32,249 [dramatic whooshing] 104 00:04:32,250 --> 00:04:33,749 - [Dan] With the seeds of fear planted, 105 00:04:33,750 --> 00:04:36,082 one man embarks on a daring deception 106 00:04:36,083 --> 00:04:40,207 to make the Germans believe an entire army is closing in. 107 00:04:40,208 --> 00:04:43,457 - Major spends the night creating chaos. 108 00:04:43,458 --> 00:04:45,791 He tosses grenades here, 109 00:04:45,792 --> 00:04:48,499 moves to a new position, fires his machine gun there. 110 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:49,707 [firearm sputtering] 111 00:04:49,708 --> 00:04:53,041 To the Germans, it sounds like an onslaught 112 00:04:53,042 --> 00:04:54,374 of a battalion, a regiment. 113 00:04:54,375 --> 00:04:56,249 Who knows how many Canadians 114 00:04:56,250 --> 00:04:57,582 have surrounded the town? 115 00:04:57,583 --> 00:04:59,124 [explosion booming] [dramatic martial music] 116 00:04:59,125 --> 00:05:01,374 - Any German forces that he does encounter in the streets, 117 00:05:01,375 --> 00:05:02,791 [firearm banging] 118 00:05:02,792 --> 00:05:04,207 he mows them down with his machine gun. 119 00:05:04,208 --> 00:05:08,457 So now, you've got bodies in the streets. 120 00:05:08,458 --> 00:05:10,499 - And the coup de grace, 121 00:05:10,500 --> 00:05:13,041 when Major finds the Gestapo headquarters, 122 00:05:13,042 --> 00:05:15,207 he sets it on fire. 123 00:05:15,208 --> 00:05:16,541 [flames roaring] [dramatic music] 124 00:05:16,542 --> 00:05:18,541 - The Germans are freaking out at this point, 125 00:05:18,542 --> 00:05:21,207 and as these Nazis start fleeing, 126 00:05:21,208 --> 00:05:23,416 he starts picking them off one at a time. 127 00:05:23,417 --> 00:05:24,457 [firearm banging] 128 00:05:24,458 --> 00:05:26,374 By four o'clock in the morning, 129 00:05:26,375 --> 00:05:31,416 there is not a single Nazi left in Zwolle. 130 00:05:31,417 --> 00:05:35,416 Leo Major has managed to liberate an entire town 131 00:05:35,417 --> 00:05:37,707 by himself. 132 00:05:37,708 --> 00:05:41,374 - Leo cements his status as a brilliant war hero. 133 00:05:41,375 --> 00:05:44,332 He is awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. 134 00:05:44,333 --> 00:05:47,041 He even goes on to serve in the Korean War 135 00:05:47,042 --> 00:05:51,457 where he is awarded yet another Distinguished Service Medal. 136 00:05:51,458 --> 00:05:53,832 [dramatic whooshing] 137 00:05:53,833 --> 00:05:55,041 - To this day, 138 00:05:55,042 --> 00:05:57,957 Dutch kids still learn all about Leo Major in school. 139 00:05:57,958 --> 00:06:00,874 But not every incredible feat makes the history books. 140 00:06:00,875 --> 00:06:03,041 Take, for example, the remarkable tale 141 00:06:03,042 --> 00:06:05,207 of an ambitious seafaring monk. 142 00:06:05,208 --> 00:06:07,041 [intriguing dramatic music] 143 00:06:07,042 --> 00:06:08,416 - So kids get taught in school 144 00:06:08,417 --> 00:06:12,499 that Columbus discovered America in 1492. 145 00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:15,291 But there are other theories that've gotten legs 146 00:06:15,292 --> 00:06:16,582 over the years, 147 00:06:16,583 --> 00:06:19,374 like the Vikings discovering Newfoundland 148 00:06:19,375 --> 00:06:21,207 in the 10th century, 149 00:06:21,208 --> 00:06:22,624 or even the Chinese, 150 00:06:22,625 --> 00:06:25,624 shortly before Columbus landing on the West Coast. 151 00:06:25,625 --> 00:06:27,541 - [Dan] But long before any of them, 152 00:06:27,542 --> 00:06:30,666 one Irish monk may have gotten there first. 153 00:06:30,667 --> 00:06:31,916 [intriguing orchestral music] 154 00:06:31,917 --> 00:06:36,083 - A sixth century Irish monk, Saint Brendan, 155 00:06:37,417 --> 00:06:40,541 supposedly embarked on a westward journey 156 00:06:40,542 --> 00:06:43,624 seeking the Garden of Eden, 157 00:06:43,625 --> 00:06:46,332 the account of which appears in his book, 158 00:06:46,333 --> 00:06:49,666 "The Voyage of Saint Brendan: The Abbott." 159 00:06:49,667 --> 00:06:51,041 [tense dramatic music] 160 00:06:51,042 --> 00:06:54,707 - Most scholars read this as an allegory, 161 00:06:54,708 --> 00:06:56,874 the story of a religious passion, 162 00:06:56,875 --> 00:07:01,624 but some read into it as an actual literal travelogue, 163 00:07:01,625 --> 00:07:06,583 the story of a voyage from Ireland all the way to Canada. 164 00:07:07,875 --> 00:07:11,541 - Allegedly, Brendan travels this 4,500 mile trek 165 00:07:11,542 --> 00:07:14,207 not in a wood-timbered ship, 166 00:07:14,208 --> 00:07:17,582 like the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria of Columbus, 167 00:07:17,583 --> 00:07:22,583 but in a leather-hulled tiny little ship called a currach. 168 00:07:23,792 --> 00:07:25,541 Now, if this were true, it would rewrite history. 169 00:07:25,542 --> 00:07:26,957 [intriguing dramatic music] 170 00:07:26,958 --> 00:07:27,957 - But how can you prove 171 00:07:27,958 --> 00:07:30,332 that a small, ancient leather boat 172 00:07:30,333 --> 00:07:33,624 could cross the North Atlantic? 173 00:07:33,625 --> 00:07:36,707 In 1976, a historian named Tim Severin 174 00:07:36,708 --> 00:07:39,249 sets out to do just that, 175 00:07:39,250 --> 00:07:41,707 follow the voyage of Saint Brendan. 176 00:07:41,708 --> 00:07:43,582 [intriguing dramatic music] 177 00:07:43,583 --> 00:07:45,082 - [Dan] With a team of boat builders, 178 00:07:45,083 --> 00:07:46,832 scholars, and drinking buddies, 179 00:07:46,833 --> 00:07:50,374 Tim painstakingly makes an authentic currach 180 00:07:50,375 --> 00:07:52,541 using only methods and materials available 181 00:07:52,542 --> 00:07:54,207 at the time of the initial voyage. 182 00:07:54,208 --> 00:07:55,582 [intriguing dramatic music] 183 00:07:55,583 --> 00:07:57,749 - Instead of wood planking, 184 00:07:57,750 --> 00:08:01,291 the hull is covered with ox hides 185 00:08:01,292 --> 00:08:06,042 that are stretched and stitched together to cover the frame. 186 00:08:07,750 --> 00:08:10,957 - Tim sets sail from Ireland in May of 1976. 187 00:08:10,958 --> 00:08:13,833 - Blessed be this boat, and all who sail in it. 188 00:08:14,542 --> 00:08:16,416 - He heads north 189 00:08:16,417 --> 00:08:19,499 and takes Brendan's voyage in which he sails 190 00:08:19,500 --> 00:08:20,999 in a stepping-stone route 191 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,332 from Ireland to Scotland to the Faro Islands 192 00:08:24,333 --> 00:08:25,666 to Iceland to Greenland 193 00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:27,707 and then to Newfoundland 194 00:08:27,708 --> 00:08:29,124 in North America. 195 00:08:29,125 --> 00:08:30,624 [thunder rumbling] [intriguing dramatic music] 196 00:08:30,625 --> 00:08:34,625 - The North Atlantic is perpetually inhospitable. 197 00:08:35,792 --> 00:08:38,541 The waves and swells are enormous. 198 00:08:38,542 --> 00:08:40,499 [intriguing dramatic music] 199 00:08:40,500 --> 00:08:41,791 - [Dan] But the waves 200 00:08:41,792 --> 00:08:43,667 end up being the least of their problems. 201 00:08:44,417 --> 00:08:45,707 - A large piece of ice 202 00:08:45,708 --> 00:08:48,416 tears a hole in the hull below the waterline, 203 00:08:48,417 --> 00:08:49,957 and they start to flood. 204 00:08:49,958 --> 00:08:52,707 This is basically their worst nightmare. 205 00:08:52,708 --> 00:08:53,707 [intense dramatic music] 206 00:08:53,708 --> 00:08:55,957 - To make a repair in the hull 207 00:08:55,958 --> 00:08:58,666 while you're sinking in frigid water, 208 00:08:58,667 --> 00:09:00,250 seems next to impossible. 209 00:09:01,792 --> 00:09:06,250 Miraculously, they are able to stitch a patch over the tear 210 00:09:07,292 --> 00:09:09,041 while they bail the boat out. 211 00:09:09,042 --> 00:09:12,374 They survive, but they still have thousands of miles to go. 212 00:09:12,375 --> 00:09:13,291 [ominous dramatic music] [water murmuring] 213 00:09:13,292 --> 00:09:15,249 - This is not a pleasure cruise. 214 00:09:15,250 --> 00:09:19,791 They are near hypothermic, their clothes are sopping, 215 00:09:19,792 --> 00:09:22,916 and their food supply is constantly wet, 216 00:09:22,917 --> 00:09:27,666 which means they have to rely on catching seagulls to eat. 217 00:09:27,667 --> 00:09:29,374 Not that it does any help, 218 00:09:29,375 --> 00:09:31,832 because they're constantly seasick 219 00:09:31,833 --> 00:09:33,791 and unable to keep anything down. 220 00:09:33,792 --> 00:09:35,457 [intriguing dramatic music] 221 00:09:35,458 --> 00:09:36,874 - [Dan] Incredibly, Tim and his crew 222 00:09:36,875 --> 00:09:39,624 push through for another 13 brutal months. 223 00:09:39,625 --> 00:09:41,874 And in June of 1977, 224 00:09:41,875 --> 00:09:45,291 the shores of North America are in sight. 225 00:09:45,292 --> 00:09:47,082 - To the world's amazement, 226 00:09:47,083 --> 00:09:51,707 Severin and his ragtag crew actually arrive in Newfoundland. 227 00:09:51,708 --> 00:09:54,707 They're wet, they're bearded, they're emaciated, 228 00:09:54,708 --> 00:09:56,874 but they've made the point. 229 00:09:56,875 --> 00:09:59,624 Saint Brendan could have made this voyage. 230 00:09:59,625 --> 00:10:00,958 - Saint Brendan. 231 00:10:02,167 --> 00:10:03,707 [eerie dramatic music] 232 00:10:03,708 --> 00:10:08,207 - 13 grueling months dodging icebergs in a leather boat, 233 00:10:08,208 --> 00:10:09,833 at least they knew which saint to pray to. 234 00:10:14,042 --> 00:10:16,041 - When it comes to record-breaking feats, 235 00:10:16,042 --> 00:10:18,082 there's no shortage of unusual accomplishments, 236 00:10:18,083 --> 00:10:21,207 like our next overachiever who pulls his way to the top 237 00:10:21,208 --> 00:10:23,207 with a surprising body part. 238 00:10:23,208 --> 00:10:24,791 [intriguing dramatic music] 239 00:10:24,792 --> 00:10:26,624 - In the city of Tbilisi, in Georgia, 240 00:10:26,625 --> 00:10:28,457 an excited crowd gathers around. 241 00:10:28,458 --> 00:10:29,624 [intriguing dramatic music] 242 00:10:29,625 --> 00:10:31,041 In the center of this large crowd, 243 00:10:31,042 --> 00:10:34,041 you have an eight-ton semi-truck. 244 00:10:34,042 --> 00:10:35,541 Standing in front of the semi-truck 245 00:10:35,542 --> 00:10:39,874 is this large, imposing man by the name of Lasha Pataraya. 246 00:10:39,875 --> 00:10:41,124 At first glance, you might think 247 00:10:41,125 --> 00:10:42,874 this guy's gonna attach a harness to him 248 00:10:42,875 --> 00:10:45,457 and he's gonna pull this eight-ton semi-truck. 249 00:10:45,458 --> 00:10:46,667 Not the case here. 250 00:10:47,708 --> 00:10:50,624 - What he's actually gonna do is a lot stranger. 251 00:10:50,625 --> 00:10:52,874 You see, Lasha uses his ears, 252 00:10:52,875 --> 00:10:54,791 specifically his left ear, 253 00:10:54,792 --> 00:10:58,416 to pull heavy equipment in front of adoring crowds. 254 00:10:58,417 --> 00:11:01,707 He's already done it with a seven-ton aircraft, 255 00:11:01,708 --> 00:11:03,541 but today, he's raising the stakes 256 00:11:03,542 --> 00:11:05,874 and hopefully earning a new world record. 257 00:11:05,875 --> 00:11:08,166 - [Dan] If eight-tons of raw industrial might 258 00:11:08,167 --> 00:11:11,416 against one delicate ear doesn't sound like a fair fight, 259 00:11:11,417 --> 00:11:12,832 that's because it isn't. 260 00:11:12,833 --> 00:11:14,041 [intriguing orchestral music] 261 00:11:14,042 --> 00:11:15,874 - The human ear is remarkably fragile. 262 00:11:15,875 --> 00:11:19,666 It has three small ligaments, three small muscles, 263 00:11:19,667 --> 00:11:21,874 and that's all that's keeping it attached. 264 00:11:21,875 --> 00:11:24,749 It only takes between 20 and 50 pounds of pressure 265 00:11:24,750 --> 00:11:26,624 to tear those ear ligaments, 266 00:11:26,625 --> 00:11:28,999 and even pull the ear wide open. 267 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:30,791 - [Dan] So what on Earth drives Lasha 268 00:11:30,792 --> 00:11:33,332 to attempt something so impossible, 269 00:11:33,333 --> 00:11:35,291 or dare I say inadvisable? 270 00:11:35,292 --> 00:11:36,624 [intriguing dramatic music] 271 00:11:36,625 --> 00:11:38,541 - One day when Lasha is working out in the gym, 272 00:11:38,542 --> 00:11:40,249 he sees another wrestler, 273 00:11:40,250 --> 00:11:43,832 as a joke, lifting these five pound weights using his ear. 274 00:11:43,833 --> 00:11:45,541 Now while everybody's having a good laugh, 275 00:11:45,542 --> 00:11:47,874 Lasha looks at it and says, 276 00:11:47,875 --> 00:11:49,874 "I could do that with even heavier weight." 277 00:11:49,875 --> 00:11:51,291 He decides, in that moment, 278 00:11:51,292 --> 00:11:54,499 I am going to have the strongest ears on the planet, 279 00:11:54,500 --> 00:11:55,707 and so he starts training. 280 00:11:55,708 --> 00:11:57,041 [intriguing dramatic music] 281 00:11:57,042 --> 00:11:58,999 - Lifting heavier and heavier things, 282 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,624 hunks of metal, parts of cars, 283 00:12:01,625 --> 00:12:03,624 whatever's necessary to build up the strength 284 00:12:03,625 --> 00:12:05,041 in that left ear. 285 00:12:05,042 --> 00:12:08,041 All this daily training gets Lasha to the point 286 00:12:08,042 --> 00:12:12,916 where, as far as he's concerned, his ear is superhuman, 287 00:12:12,917 --> 00:12:15,957 and he decides he has to demonstrate this power 288 00:12:15,958 --> 00:12:18,124 that he has acquired from his practice. 289 00:12:18,125 --> 00:12:19,332 [dramatic thud] 290 00:12:19,333 --> 00:12:20,791 - [Dan] He kicks off these public displays 291 00:12:20,792 --> 00:12:23,874 with a 5.5-ton tow truck, then a helicopter, 292 00:12:23,875 --> 00:12:26,707 each success pushing the boundaries of human engineering 293 00:12:26,708 --> 00:12:28,624 and medical science. 294 00:12:28,625 --> 00:12:32,541 Now, Lasha's ready to take on his most daring challenge yet: 295 00:12:32,542 --> 00:12:34,749 the eight-ton semi-truck. 296 00:12:34,750 --> 00:12:36,707 - With a crowd gathered around him and the truck, 297 00:12:36,708 --> 00:12:39,374 Lasha attaches this white strap to his ear, 298 00:12:39,375 --> 00:12:41,874 and he starts to pull with all of his might. 299 00:12:41,875 --> 00:12:43,332 [spectators clamoring] 300 00:12:43,333 --> 00:12:46,666 And to the crowd's amazement, the truck moves, 301 00:12:46,667 --> 00:12:49,332 and eventually starts to roll. 302 00:12:49,333 --> 00:12:53,499 [spectators clamoring and cheering] 303 00:12:53,500 --> 00:12:54,916 - Lasha is ecstatic, 304 00:12:54,917 --> 00:12:56,374 but the real miracle here 305 00:12:56,375 --> 00:12:59,416 is that his ear stays attached to his head. 306 00:12:59,417 --> 00:13:02,582 [spectators cheering] 307 00:13:02,583 --> 00:13:03,999 - If you think that's wild, 308 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:06,916 this next feat is a little harder to stomach. 309 00:13:06,917 --> 00:13:09,707 [intriguing dramatic music] 310 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:11,582 - Every year, thousands of parents 311 00:13:11,583 --> 00:13:13,374 rush their kids to emergency rooms, 312 00:13:13,375 --> 00:13:15,416 panicking because they've swallowed something 313 00:13:15,417 --> 00:13:16,541 they're not supposed to, 314 00:13:16,542 --> 00:13:20,832 marbles, metal toys, coins, batteries, you name it. 315 00:13:20,833 --> 00:13:22,249 - And they should be worried. 316 00:13:22,250 --> 00:13:26,832 Small objects can lacerate their throat or their gut, 317 00:13:26,833 --> 00:13:28,874 they can block the intestines. 318 00:13:28,875 --> 00:13:32,207 Batteries can burn the lining of the digestive tract. 319 00:13:32,208 --> 00:13:35,416 There are a whole host of problems that could arise. 320 00:13:35,417 --> 00:13:38,082 - [Dan] Thankfully, most kids grow out of this, 321 00:13:38,083 --> 00:13:39,957 but there's one who doesn't. 322 00:13:39,958 --> 00:13:41,124 [intriguing orchestral music] 323 00:13:41,125 --> 00:13:43,666 - In 1959, in Grenoble, France, 324 00:13:43,667 --> 00:13:46,249 a 9-year-old boy, Michel Lotito, 325 00:13:46,250 --> 00:13:48,875 develops an unusual eating habit. 326 00:13:49,875 --> 00:13:51,832 - He has this insatiable appetite 327 00:13:51,833 --> 00:13:54,124 for really strange things, 328 00:13:54,125 --> 00:13:57,457 tires, TV knobs, glass, metal. 329 00:13:57,458 --> 00:14:00,332 There is a word for this compulsion, it's called pica, 330 00:14:00,333 --> 00:14:02,332 and it's a psychological condition 331 00:14:02,333 --> 00:14:05,124 where the sufferer has this compulsion to eat things 332 00:14:05,125 --> 00:14:07,083 that have no nutritional value. 333 00:14:08,333 --> 00:14:11,124 - But incredibly, Michel is able to live through it, 334 00:14:11,125 --> 00:14:13,249 and grows up as a healthy kid 335 00:14:13,250 --> 00:14:15,749 who just likes eating crazy stuff. 336 00:14:15,750 --> 00:14:16,916 [intriguing orchestral music] 337 00:14:16,917 --> 00:14:19,082 - By the time he reaches 16 though, 338 00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:21,874 Michel realizes this is not quite the curse 339 00:14:21,875 --> 00:14:23,541 his doctors have been telling him, 340 00:14:23,542 --> 00:14:26,917 this is actually a skill he can turn into an act. 341 00:14:28,375 --> 00:14:32,374 So Michel begins demonstrating this amazing feat for crowds. 342 00:14:32,375 --> 00:14:35,832 - He dazzles audiences by gobbling down chunks of rubber, 343 00:14:35,833 --> 00:14:37,749 bits of glass and metal. 344 00:14:37,750 --> 00:14:39,874 Nothing is too big, too sharp, 345 00:14:39,875 --> 00:14:41,874 or too dangerous for Michel. 346 00:14:41,875 --> 00:14:43,291 [bulb clacking] 347 00:14:43,292 --> 00:14:46,499 We're talking 18 bicycles, 15 supermarket trolleys, 348 00:14:46,500 --> 00:14:49,082 seven TV sets, six chandeliers, 349 00:14:49,083 --> 00:14:52,999 two beds, a pair of skis, and a computer. 350 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,166 - [Dan] But his biggest conquest of all? 351 00:14:55,167 --> 00:14:58,249 An entire Cessna light aircraft. 352 00:14:58,250 --> 00:15:01,916 - You can't eat an entire plane in one big lump. 353 00:15:01,917 --> 00:15:04,499 You have to break it up into little pieces, 354 00:15:04,500 --> 00:15:05,875 which is what Michel does. 355 00:15:06,833 --> 00:15:08,666 I mean, he's eating the propellers, 356 00:15:08,667 --> 00:15:10,749 the rudders, the wheels, all of it. 357 00:15:10,750 --> 00:15:12,374 Of course, the most amazing thing 358 00:15:12,375 --> 00:15:15,207 is probably not that he ate the entire plane, 359 00:15:15,208 --> 00:15:18,541 but that he actually suffers fairly few ill effects. 360 00:15:18,542 --> 00:15:19,916 [bulb clacking] 361 00:15:19,917 --> 00:15:21,707 - Obviously, doctors are wondering 362 00:15:21,708 --> 00:15:24,124 how he's not managed to kill himself, 363 00:15:24,125 --> 00:15:26,749 and some are wondering is there some kind of trickery 364 00:15:26,750 --> 00:15:28,249 or sleight of hand that's involved. 365 00:15:28,250 --> 00:15:31,916 So to check, they take X-rays in real time 366 00:15:31,917 --> 00:15:33,124 to see what's happening. 367 00:15:33,125 --> 00:15:37,166 And they can actually see that metal and glass 368 00:15:37,167 --> 00:15:40,541 are going down through the digestive tract as he's eating. 369 00:15:40,542 --> 00:15:43,541 - Of course, these chunks of metal and slabs of rubber, 370 00:15:43,542 --> 00:15:45,916 he's not actually able to digest those things, 371 00:15:45,917 --> 00:15:47,667 those are just passing through. 372 00:15:48,667 --> 00:15:49,832 - [Dan] Surprisingly, 373 00:15:49,833 --> 00:15:52,999 the one thing he can't eat are bananas. 374 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:55,291 - As crazy as this sounds, 375 00:15:55,292 --> 00:15:57,041 he claims that it reacts with all the metal 376 00:15:57,042 --> 00:15:58,291 and gives him indigestion. 377 00:15:58,292 --> 00:16:00,291 [intriguing dramatic music] 378 00:16:00,292 --> 00:16:03,957 - Michel's feats of outrageous eating are beyond impressive, 379 00:16:03,958 --> 00:16:05,874 but one thing's for certain, 380 00:16:05,875 --> 00:16:07,999 if you have him over for dinner, 381 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:09,375 don't use the good silverware. 382 00:16:13,458 --> 00:16:15,207 - We've all seen bar bets go a little too far. 383 00:16:15,208 --> 00:16:17,957 Someone ends up with a dart in their shoulder, 384 00:16:17,958 --> 00:16:20,582 or learns what a urinal cake tastes like, 385 00:16:20,583 --> 00:16:23,707 but they usually don't end up making the morning papers. 386 00:16:23,708 --> 00:16:25,624 [intriguing orchestral music] 387 00:16:25,625 --> 00:16:27,957 - September 30th, 1956, 388 00:16:27,958 --> 00:16:29,417 three o'clock in the morning, 389 00:16:30,500 --> 00:16:33,457 we see one Thomas Fitzpatrick, former Air Force pilot, 390 00:16:33,458 --> 00:16:36,291 drunkenly stumbling onto the tarmac 391 00:16:36,292 --> 00:16:39,374 of the Teterboro Airport School of Aeronautics. 392 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:40,541 Thomas is there 393 00:16:40,542 --> 00:16:44,624 because he's going to try to steal a plane. 394 00:16:44,625 --> 00:16:46,374 - Thomas is a drinker, 395 00:16:46,375 --> 00:16:50,082 and this whole thing started in his local Manhattan bar 396 00:16:50,083 --> 00:16:51,582 [tape screeching] 397 00:16:51,583 --> 00:16:55,082 where he is talking about how he was the fastest pilot 398 00:16:55,083 --> 00:16:56,541 in his Air Force squadron, 399 00:16:56,542 --> 00:16:58,249 and he's telling them all the details 400 00:16:58,250 --> 00:17:00,124 of his many accomplishments. 401 00:17:00,125 --> 00:17:02,249 But he's also pounding drinks. 402 00:17:02,250 --> 00:17:03,832 [intriguing dramatic music] 403 00:17:03,833 --> 00:17:07,249 Then one of Thomas's drunken friends makes him the bet 404 00:17:07,250 --> 00:17:10,541 that he can't make it out to Teterboro and back 405 00:17:10,542 --> 00:17:12,374 before the bar closes. 406 00:17:12,375 --> 00:17:14,249 And Thomas is not gonna turn down this bet, 407 00:17:14,250 --> 00:17:15,874 his honor is at stake. 408 00:17:15,875 --> 00:17:17,041 [intriguing dramatic music] 409 00:17:17,042 --> 00:17:18,207 - [Dan] With the clock ticking, 410 00:17:18,208 --> 00:17:20,416 Thomas heads to Teterboro Airport, 411 00:17:20,417 --> 00:17:23,417 eyes the lineup, and zeroes in on the perfect plane, 412 00:17:24,542 --> 00:17:26,707 a single-engine Cessna. 413 00:17:26,708 --> 00:17:28,250 - He then gets it started 414 00:17:29,250 --> 00:17:32,082 and takes off completely undetected. 415 00:17:32,083 --> 00:17:33,499 [pensive dramatic music] 416 00:17:33,500 --> 00:17:35,166 He has no lights on, 417 00:17:35,167 --> 00:17:37,416 no radio contact with air traffic control, 418 00:17:37,417 --> 00:17:39,999 and he proceeds to fly to New York. 419 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:41,541 And the entire time, 420 00:17:41,542 --> 00:17:44,957 no one has figured out that he has stolen an airplane. 421 00:17:44,958 --> 00:17:46,541 [tense dramatic music] 422 00:17:46,542 --> 00:17:48,624 - Thomas is attempting now to land the single-engine Cessna 423 00:17:48,625 --> 00:17:51,707 on St. Nicholas Avenue and 191st Street 424 00:17:51,708 --> 00:17:53,707 directly in front of the bar that he was drinking in 425 00:17:53,708 --> 00:17:54,957 as per the bet. 426 00:17:54,958 --> 00:17:56,707 [tense dramatic music] 427 00:17:56,708 --> 00:17:58,374 - This is the kind of landing 428 00:17:58,375 --> 00:18:01,874 that would be impossible for a stone cold sober pilot. 429 00:18:01,875 --> 00:18:04,749 For one thing, there are wind gusts through Manhattan 430 00:18:04,750 --> 00:18:06,082 that wreak havoc, 431 00:18:06,083 --> 00:18:08,249 and these buildings are pretty close together, 432 00:18:08,250 --> 00:18:09,791 there are cars in the street. 433 00:18:09,792 --> 00:18:13,167 It's just not a safe place to put a plane down. 434 00:18:14,375 --> 00:18:18,041 But somehow, Thomas Fitzpatrick sticks the landing. 435 00:18:18,042 --> 00:18:20,332 [tires screeching] 436 00:18:20,333 --> 00:18:23,207 Once people realize he has parked a plane outside, 437 00:18:23,208 --> 00:18:25,874 the bar erupts in cheers, 438 00:18:25,875 --> 00:18:28,624 except probably for the people that had bet against this 439 00:18:28,625 --> 00:18:30,999 and have now lost all of their paycheck. 440 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:32,416 [tense triumphant music] 441 00:18:32,417 --> 00:18:34,291 - Everybody is so impressed with this, 442 00:18:34,292 --> 00:18:37,207 and the New York Times calls it a great feat of aeronautics 443 00:18:37,208 --> 00:18:38,707 and a fine landing. 444 00:18:38,708 --> 00:18:40,749 And while he's fined about a hundred dollars, 445 00:18:40,750 --> 00:18:43,291 which is roughly $1,200 today, 446 00:18:43,292 --> 00:18:45,749 the owner does not even want to press charges 447 00:18:45,750 --> 00:18:46,750 for stealing the plane. 448 00:18:49,958 --> 00:18:51,874 - Thomas continues to boast 449 00:18:51,875 --> 00:18:53,541 about this achievement for years, 450 00:18:53,542 --> 00:18:56,332 but people in the bar are not as enthused 451 00:18:56,333 --> 00:18:57,916 to hear this story, 452 00:18:57,917 --> 00:19:00,332 and the regulars have cycled out and new ones are there, 453 00:19:00,333 --> 00:19:02,499 and they don't all believe this happened, 454 00:19:02,500 --> 00:19:04,541 because they did not see it with their own eyes, 455 00:19:04,542 --> 00:19:07,166 and so they kind of start to goad him and be like, 456 00:19:07,167 --> 00:19:08,874 "Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's great, 457 00:19:08,875 --> 00:19:10,957 bet you can't do it again." 458 00:19:10,958 --> 00:19:12,374 - [Dan] Not one to back down, 459 00:19:12,375 --> 00:19:15,791 Thomas sets out to do the unthinkable again. 460 00:19:15,792 --> 00:19:19,832 - On October 4th, 1958, just a little bit before 1:00 AM, 461 00:19:19,833 --> 00:19:24,499 Thomas, intoxicated, goes to the same airfield as before, 462 00:19:24,500 --> 00:19:27,666 steals a single-engine Cessna, and does it again. 463 00:19:27,667 --> 00:19:31,666 - This time, he puts the plane down on 187th Street, 464 00:19:31,667 --> 00:19:34,124 right in front of a Yeshiva University building. 465 00:19:34,125 --> 00:19:35,749 [tires screeching] 466 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:38,457 But the reception is not as good as the first time around. 467 00:19:38,458 --> 00:19:40,374 - For his second stolen flight, 468 00:19:40,375 --> 00:19:44,416 a New York judge sentences him to six months in prison, 469 00:19:44,417 --> 00:19:45,749 with the judge stating that, 470 00:19:45,750 --> 00:19:48,541 "Had you been properly jolted the first time, 471 00:19:48,542 --> 00:19:50,832 this likely would never have happened again." 472 00:19:50,833 --> 00:19:52,332 - In response, Thomas blames it 473 00:19:52,333 --> 00:19:54,291 on, quote, "The lousy drink," 474 00:19:54,292 --> 00:19:57,041 aka, "Don't blame me, blame it on the alcohol." 475 00:19:57,042 --> 00:19:58,957 [intriguing dramatic music] 476 00:19:58,958 --> 00:20:02,207 - Our next go-getter doesn't need liquid courage, 477 00:20:02,208 --> 00:20:04,374 he's smashing records sober, 478 00:20:04,375 --> 00:20:06,457 and there are hundreds on his hit list. 479 00:20:06,458 --> 00:20:08,749 [intriguing dramatic music] 480 00:20:08,750 --> 00:20:11,207 - It's a lovely day in Brooklyn, New York. 481 00:20:11,208 --> 00:20:12,332 Sun is shining, 482 00:20:12,333 --> 00:20:13,832 birds are chirping. 483 00:20:13,833 --> 00:20:15,457 And because this is New York, 484 00:20:15,458 --> 00:20:18,124 a wild-eyed crazy man starts running through the streets 485 00:20:18,125 --> 00:20:21,041 with a bottle of milk balanced on his head. 486 00:20:21,042 --> 00:20:22,874 The guy's name is Ashrita Furman, 487 00:20:22,875 --> 00:20:25,207 and he's training to beat a world record 488 00:20:25,208 --> 00:20:26,707 to run a mile the fastest 489 00:20:26,708 --> 00:20:29,957 while balancing a bottle of milk on your head. 490 00:20:29,958 --> 00:20:31,249 - And the really funny part 491 00:20:31,250 --> 00:20:33,874 is that this is not the only wacky record 492 00:20:33,875 --> 00:20:35,416 that he's training for. 493 00:20:35,417 --> 00:20:39,416 In fact, Ashrita holds the most meta record of all time. 494 00:20:39,417 --> 00:20:41,291 He has the Guinness World Record 495 00:20:41,292 --> 00:20:46,333 for Most Guinness World Records held by one person. 496 00:20:47,125 --> 00:20:48,291 - [Dan] These records include 497 00:20:48,292 --> 00:20:50,624 Poem Recited in the Most Languages, 498 00:20:50,625 --> 00:20:52,582 World's Largest Incense Stick, 499 00:20:52,583 --> 00:20:55,291 Fastest 5K in Swimming Fins, 500 00:20:55,292 --> 00:20:57,124 World's Largest Crayon, 501 00:20:57,125 --> 00:20:59,166 Heaviest Shoes Ever Walked In, 502 00:20:59,167 --> 00:21:01,541 and Most Pumpkins Smashed in a Minute. 503 00:21:01,542 --> 00:21:05,541 - The previous record was 15 pumpkins smashed in one minute, 504 00:21:05,542 --> 00:21:08,291 and we did 31 just now. 505 00:21:08,292 --> 00:21:10,332 - [Dan] Just where does this insatiable quest 506 00:21:10,333 --> 00:21:12,874 to be the best of the weirdest come from? 507 00:21:12,875 --> 00:21:14,541 Long before he's Ashrita, 508 00:21:14,542 --> 00:21:17,500 Keith Furman is a kid determined to find his way. 509 00:21:18,375 --> 00:21:19,707 - Back in the 1960s, 510 00:21:19,708 --> 00:21:22,874 a young Keith Furman becomes obsessed 511 00:21:22,875 --> 00:21:24,957 with the Guinness Book of World Records, 512 00:21:24,958 --> 00:21:28,957 but he's really not blessed with incredible athletic skill, 513 00:21:28,958 --> 00:21:31,082 or ability to actually become 514 00:21:31,083 --> 00:21:33,874 a traditional record holder himself. 515 00:21:33,875 --> 00:21:35,374 But when he hits his 20s, 516 00:21:35,375 --> 00:21:38,416 he immerses himself in Eastern spirituality, 517 00:21:38,417 --> 00:21:40,541 in particular, the teachings of a guru 518 00:21:40,542 --> 00:21:43,082 by the name of Sri Chinmoy. 519 00:21:43,083 --> 00:21:45,457 - And what Chinmoy convinces him of 520 00:21:45,458 --> 00:21:48,041 is that it's all mind over matter. 521 00:21:48,042 --> 00:21:49,374 It doesn't matter 522 00:21:49,375 --> 00:21:50,874 that he's not the strongest man in the world, 523 00:21:50,875 --> 00:21:52,832 or particularly athletic, 524 00:21:52,833 --> 00:21:56,207 all he has to do is set his mind to it. 525 00:21:56,208 --> 00:21:58,916 and what Chinmoy does is enter him 526 00:21:58,917 --> 00:22:01,832 in a 24-hour bike marathon. 527 00:22:01,833 --> 00:22:05,207 And shockingly, using his meditation techniques 528 00:22:05,208 --> 00:22:06,457 that he's learned from Chinmoy, 529 00:22:06,458 --> 00:22:08,667 Furman places third. 530 00:22:09,583 --> 00:22:11,166 - Shocked by his own accomplishment 531 00:22:11,167 --> 00:22:12,749 and inspired by Chinmoy, 532 00:22:12,750 --> 00:22:16,207 Furman changes his name from Keith to Ashrita, 533 00:22:16,208 --> 00:22:17,957 which means "Protected by God," 534 00:22:17,958 --> 00:22:21,874 and he takes aim at his beloved Guinness World Record book. 535 00:22:21,875 --> 00:22:23,874 - He starts with a pretty straightforward goal, 536 00:22:23,875 --> 00:22:26,207 he wants to hold the Guinness World record 537 00:22:26,208 --> 00:22:27,582 for the most jumping jacks. 538 00:22:27,583 --> 00:22:31,916 In 1979, he actually achieves that world record 539 00:22:31,917 --> 00:22:34,624 by doing 27,000 of them. 540 00:22:34,625 --> 00:22:35,874 [intriguing orchestral music] 541 00:22:35,875 --> 00:22:38,000 - [Dan] Then comes a game-changing epiphany. 542 00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:40,374 the weirder the record, 543 00:22:40,375 --> 00:22:43,124 the better Ashrita's chances are of claiming it. 544 00:22:43,125 --> 00:22:46,707 - Why would you participate in these normal activities 545 00:22:46,708 --> 00:22:50,416 when you could instead pioneer underwater pogo sticking? 546 00:22:50,417 --> 00:22:52,082 Why would you bother with a marathon 547 00:22:52,083 --> 00:22:55,374 when instead you could push an orange with your nose 548 00:22:55,375 --> 00:22:58,416 farther than anybody else ever has? 549 00:22:58,417 --> 00:23:01,249 His greatest hits include underwater juggling, 550 00:23:01,250 --> 00:23:03,291 mountain climbing on stilts, 551 00:23:03,292 --> 00:23:05,416 pogo stick basketball dribbling, 552 00:23:05,417 --> 00:23:07,624 most candles lit in one minute. 553 00:23:07,625 --> 00:23:11,416 The list of things he's done just goes on and on and on. 554 00:23:11,417 --> 00:23:14,666 - He shows no signs of slowing down. 555 00:23:14,667 --> 00:23:17,207 Maybe the best part of it all, as weird as it is, 556 00:23:17,208 --> 00:23:20,375 is that he seems to be having an absolute blast doing it. 557 00:23:21,583 --> 00:23:23,707 - Sure, everybody's good at something, 558 00:23:23,708 --> 00:23:28,625 but it turns out only one man is the best at 700 of them. 559 00:23:32,708 --> 00:23:34,582 - History has its share of silver-haired seducers, 560 00:23:34,583 --> 00:23:37,666 Casanova, Ben Franklin, Hugh Hefner, 561 00:23:37,667 --> 00:23:41,374 but one lion gives them all a run for their money, 562 00:23:41,375 --> 00:23:44,166 and proves age really is just a number. 563 00:23:44,167 --> 00:23:46,332 [dramatic whooshing] [intriguing dramatic music] 564 00:23:46,333 --> 00:23:47,957 - In the early 1970s, 565 00:23:47,958 --> 00:23:52,541 a revolutionary idea takes hold in zoos. 566 00:23:52,542 --> 00:23:54,457 Rather than cages, 567 00:23:54,458 --> 00:23:58,416 why not a place where the animals can roam free? 568 00:23:58,417 --> 00:24:01,917 Thus, in California, we have Lion Country Safari. 569 00:24:02,833 --> 00:24:05,707 - The general public is invited 570 00:24:05,708 --> 00:24:10,542 to drive past big predators, like lions and tigers, 571 00:24:11,667 --> 00:24:13,707 within the supposed safety of the family car. 572 00:24:13,708 --> 00:24:16,374 [intriguing dramatic music] [lion growling] 573 00:24:16,375 --> 00:24:18,707 If you tip the attendants well enough, 574 00:24:18,708 --> 00:24:22,332 they will throw meat onto the car itself, 575 00:24:22,333 --> 00:24:25,042 so that the lions climb up for a meal. 576 00:24:26,208 --> 00:24:29,082 - In addition to being an attraction, 577 00:24:29,083 --> 00:24:32,541 these wildlife parks also have another mission, 578 00:24:32,542 --> 00:24:35,749 which is to breed captive lions 579 00:24:35,750 --> 00:24:39,332 for selling to other parks and zoos. 580 00:24:39,333 --> 00:24:42,207 The problem is, in this California park, 581 00:24:42,208 --> 00:24:43,416 the lions aren't breeding. 582 00:24:43,417 --> 00:24:44,582 [intriguing dramatic music] 583 00:24:44,583 --> 00:24:45,749 - What they fail to realize 584 00:24:45,750 --> 00:24:48,457 is that these lions and lionesses, 585 00:24:48,458 --> 00:24:50,374 they grew up together, 586 00:24:50,375 --> 00:24:52,874 they were in the same packs and groups, 587 00:24:52,875 --> 00:24:56,041 so they behave as if they were siblings, 588 00:24:56,042 --> 00:24:59,874 there's almost a genetic taboo from them mating. 589 00:24:59,875 --> 00:25:03,707 In essence, the lionesses friend zone the male lions. 590 00:25:03,708 --> 00:25:05,124 [intriguing dramatic music] 591 00:25:05,125 --> 00:25:06,499 - Around the same time, 592 00:25:06,500 --> 00:25:08,707 there's a circus in Tijuana that's going bankrupt, 593 00:25:08,708 --> 00:25:12,041 and they have this very old lion named Frasier. 594 00:25:12,042 --> 00:25:14,416 Lion Country Safari agrees to take him in, 595 00:25:14,417 --> 00:25:16,458 so he can retire there. 596 00:25:17,208 --> 00:25:18,541 This lion is 19, 597 00:25:18,542 --> 00:25:20,707 and that's like 80 in human years. 598 00:25:20,708 --> 00:25:22,832 He's arthritic, he's so toothless 599 00:25:22,833 --> 00:25:25,332 that his tongue just hangs out of his mouth, 600 00:25:25,333 --> 00:25:26,957 and he's got this patchy mane 601 00:25:26,958 --> 00:25:29,791 that looks like some kind of sad lion comb-over. 602 00:25:29,792 --> 00:25:31,291 [intriguing dramatic music] 603 00:25:31,292 --> 00:25:32,707 - [Dan] He may not have the looks, 604 00:25:32,708 --> 00:25:36,042 but what this lion does have is plenty of mojo. 605 00:25:37,375 --> 00:25:39,832 - When Frasier limps his way over 606 00:25:39,833 --> 00:25:41,999 to where the pride is sunning themselves, 607 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:45,541 suddenly, the lionesses all perk up, 608 00:25:45,542 --> 00:25:48,792 like he is the lion that they've been dreaming of. 609 00:25:50,125 --> 00:25:54,166 Soon, Frasier has a whole harem of lionesses. 610 00:25:54,167 --> 00:25:58,499 They go with him everywhere, they bring him food, 611 00:25:58,500 --> 00:26:01,874 they pillow his head when he lies down, 612 00:26:01,875 --> 00:26:04,374 they walk beside him holding him up, 613 00:26:04,375 --> 00:26:06,542 because he's so unsteady. 614 00:26:07,375 --> 00:26:11,416 They also breed with him a lot. 615 00:26:11,417 --> 00:26:13,791 [Frasier growling] [lioness growling] 616 00:26:13,792 --> 00:26:17,874 [birds chirping] [ethereal music] 617 00:26:17,875 --> 00:26:21,166 - Before you know it, there's lion cubs everywhere, 618 00:26:21,167 --> 00:26:23,582 and not like four or five, 619 00:26:23,583 --> 00:26:28,625 Frasier fathers 35 lion cubs. 620 00:26:29,750 --> 00:26:33,291 This is with 11 lionesses in just 18 months. 621 00:26:33,292 --> 00:26:36,957 No zookeeper has ever seen anything like this. 622 00:26:36,958 --> 00:26:40,916 - And, of course, this isn't happening behind closed doors, 623 00:26:40,917 --> 00:26:43,541 this is all on display for the public. 624 00:26:43,542 --> 00:26:45,707 And in the freewheeling '70s, 625 00:26:45,708 --> 00:26:48,291 Frasier becomes a sensation. 626 00:26:48,292 --> 00:26:49,666 [intriguing dramatic music] 627 00:26:49,667 --> 00:26:52,499 The zookeepers know that they've struck gold, 628 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:55,999 and so, they make him their mascot, 629 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:58,832 naming him Frasier the Sensuous Lion. 630 00:26:58,833 --> 00:27:00,957 - He becomes mainstream famous. 631 00:27:00,958 --> 00:27:03,166 A low-budget movie is made about him. 632 00:27:03,167 --> 00:27:06,541 Sarah Vaughan records a song about him. 633 00:27:06,542 --> 00:27:07,707 People start producing 634 00:27:07,708 --> 00:27:10,125 Frasier for President bumper stickers. 635 00:27:11,333 --> 00:27:12,874 - According to some accounts, 636 00:27:12,875 --> 00:27:16,874 Frasier receives upwards of 1,500 fan letters a month, 637 00:27:16,875 --> 00:27:19,666 many of which are from fellow older men 638 00:27:19,667 --> 00:27:22,750 asking what exactly is the zoo feeding him? 639 00:27:23,708 --> 00:27:26,207 - Sadly, in July of 1972, 640 00:27:26,208 --> 00:27:27,832 Frasier the Sensuous Lion, 641 00:27:27,833 --> 00:27:30,999 who brought unrelenting joy to countless fans, 642 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,207 and at least 11 female lions, 643 00:27:33,208 --> 00:27:34,333 passes away. 644 00:27:35,250 --> 00:27:36,749 - [Journalist] What was the cause of death? 645 00:27:36,750 --> 00:27:38,832 - Well, basically, he died of old age. 646 00:27:38,833 --> 00:27:41,457 He was, after all, near the human equivalent 647 00:27:41,458 --> 00:27:42,624 of 100 years old. 648 00:27:42,625 --> 00:27:44,582 [dramatic thud] 649 00:27:44,583 --> 00:27:46,874 - Frasier ruled the pride, 650 00:27:46,875 --> 00:27:48,166 but the next animals you'll meet 651 00:27:48,167 --> 00:27:50,749 are mastering something totally different: 652 00:27:50,750 --> 00:27:51,874 the highway. 653 00:27:51,875 --> 00:27:54,041 [grandiose dramatic music] 654 00:27:54,042 --> 00:27:56,207 - Anyone who has ever had a dog in their life 655 00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:57,874 knows that nothing gets them more excited 656 00:27:57,875 --> 00:28:00,874 than saying "Who wants to go for a ride?!" 657 00:28:00,875 --> 00:28:02,457 [grandiose dramatic music] 658 00:28:02,458 --> 00:28:04,207 We've all seen dogs sticking their heads out of car windows 659 00:28:04,208 --> 00:28:06,707 and enjoying the wind in their face, 660 00:28:06,708 --> 00:28:09,082 but what we don't usually see 661 00:28:09,083 --> 00:28:11,416 is a dog actually driving the car. 662 00:28:11,417 --> 00:28:12,707 [intriguing dramatic music] 663 00:28:12,708 --> 00:28:14,957 - 2012, in New Zealand, 664 00:28:14,958 --> 00:28:18,541 some dog trainers decide they wanna up the game 665 00:28:18,542 --> 00:28:20,166 for the rescue dogs 666 00:28:20,167 --> 00:28:23,207 that aren't being adopted quickly enough, 667 00:28:23,208 --> 00:28:26,832 and they're going to train them to do an amazing stunt, 668 00:28:26,833 --> 00:28:29,041 and that's to drive a car. 669 00:28:29,042 --> 00:28:30,457 [intriguing upbeat music] 670 00:28:30,458 --> 00:28:32,791 Of course, you can't just throw your dog into the car 671 00:28:32,792 --> 00:28:35,041 and expect it to take the wheel, 672 00:28:35,042 --> 00:28:38,374 so they build a simulator that they can tow, 673 00:28:38,375 --> 00:28:41,457 and the dogs can get used to how they have to control 674 00:28:41,458 --> 00:28:42,707 this moving vehicle. 675 00:28:42,708 --> 00:28:44,374 [intriguing upbeat music] 676 00:28:44,375 --> 00:28:48,707 - Meanwhile, the tech crew is also modifying a Mini Cooper 677 00:28:48,708 --> 00:28:50,416 with all of the same stuff, 678 00:28:50,417 --> 00:28:53,416 so that the dogs could actually drive a real-life car 679 00:28:53,417 --> 00:28:55,707 instead of just a simulator. 680 00:28:55,708 --> 00:28:57,082 And after just eight weeks, 681 00:28:57,083 --> 00:29:00,707 Monty, a dog with a scruffy gray coat, 682 00:29:00,708 --> 00:29:02,332 is ready to give it a whirl. 683 00:29:02,333 --> 00:29:03,791 [rhythmic dog barking] [intriguing upbeat music] 684 00:29:03,792 --> 00:29:05,291 - It's not just one dog, 685 00:29:05,292 --> 00:29:08,541 they teach a terrier mix named Porter to drive too. 686 00:29:08,542 --> 00:29:09,749 [intriguing upbeat music] 687 00:29:09,750 --> 00:29:13,166 This is the real deal, there's no CGI here. 688 00:29:13,167 --> 00:29:16,708 And so, of course, these videos go viral. 689 00:29:18,042 --> 00:29:21,874 The shelters are besieged by adoption requests. 690 00:29:21,875 --> 00:29:23,957 [mellow upbeat music] 691 00:29:23,958 --> 00:29:26,457 And so, in addition to getting to teach dogs 692 00:29:26,458 --> 00:29:28,124 how to drive cars, 693 00:29:28,125 --> 00:29:30,166 they fulfill the real goal, 694 00:29:30,167 --> 00:29:34,291 which is to find these dogs loving homes. 695 00:29:34,292 --> 00:29:36,874 [dog huffing] [mellow upbeat music] 696 00:29:36,875 --> 00:29:39,666 - Would I adopt such an unbelievable pup? 697 00:29:39,667 --> 00:29:40,832 Yes. 698 00:29:40,833 --> 00:29:42,999 Would I also hide my keys? 699 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:43,375 Yes. 700 00:29:47,375 --> 00:29:48,957 - There's nothing heroic about being a criminal, 701 00:29:48,958 --> 00:29:51,249 unless you're so incredibly great at it 702 00:29:51,250 --> 00:29:54,374 that the whole world has to applaud your genius. 703 00:29:54,375 --> 00:29:56,624 [pensive dramatic music] 704 00:29:56,625 --> 00:29:58,374 - It's a quiet Friday morning 705 00:29:58,375 --> 00:30:01,999 in the upscale Banco Rio branch in Buenos Aires, 706 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:05,707 when a group of men in costume come running in 707 00:30:05,708 --> 00:30:07,791 and announce, "This is a holdup." 708 00:30:07,792 --> 00:30:08,791 [pensive dramatic music] 709 00:30:08,792 --> 00:30:10,791 - This is a very organized crew, 710 00:30:10,792 --> 00:30:12,541 they immediately round up bankers 711 00:30:12,542 --> 00:30:14,041 and security and customers 712 00:30:14,042 --> 00:30:16,041 and secure them as hostages. 713 00:30:16,042 --> 00:30:18,582 However, despite their meticulous planning, 714 00:30:18,583 --> 00:30:19,874 an alarm has gone off. 715 00:30:19,875 --> 00:30:21,374 [sirens wailing] [pensive dramatic music] 716 00:30:21,375 --> 00:30:25,707 And within minutes, the entire bank is surrounded by police. 717 00:30:25,708 --> 00:30:26,791 [intriguing dramatic music] 718 00:30:26,792 --> 00:30:29,082 - One of the robbers is wearing 719 00:30:29,083 --> 00:30:32,916 a finely-tailored gray suit and a yarmulke. 720 00:30:32,917 --> 00:30:35,417 He seems to be the ringleader, 721 00:30:36,750 --> 00:30:40,041 and he points his weapon at the security guard, 722 00:30:40,042 --> 00:30:43,707 confiscates the guard's gun and removes the bullets. 723 00:30:43,708 --> 00:30:45,791 - He takes the guard's cell phone 724 00:30:45,792 --> 00:30:47,041 and then goes to the window 725 00:30:47,042 --> 00:30:49,707 and shows the phone to the police outside, 726 00:30:49,708 --> 00:30:51,041 letting them know 727 00:30:51,042 --> 00:30:52,832 that if they call them on the guard's phone, 728 00:30:52,833 --> 00:30:54,416 they'll be able to negotiate. 729 00:30:54,417 --> 00:30:57,957 - [Dan] What follows is a tense game of cat and mouse, 730 00:30:57,958 --> 00:30:59,874 all playing out in front of news cameras 731 00:30:59,875 --> 00:31:01,457 as the country watches. 732 00:31:01,458 --> 00:31:02,749 [pensive dramatic music] 733 00:31:02,750 --> 00:31:05,166 - The robbers release two hostages, 734 00:31:05,167 --> 00:31:08,707 and demand pizza to feed everybody, 735 00:31:08,708 --> 00:31:12,416 and they say that after everyone is fed, 736 00:31:12,417 --> 00:31:15,541 they will then safely let the hostages go. 737 00:31:15,542 --> 00:31:17,041 [dramatic grandiose music] 738 00:31:17,042 --> 00:31:19,499 - Police, assuming that this might be a peaceful resolution, 739 00:31:19,500 --> 00:31:21,207 readily agree. 740 00:31:21,208 --> 00:31:23,666 They can even hear them singing happy birthday 741 00:31:23,667 --> 00:31:25,166 to one of the hostages. 742 00:31:25,167 --> 00:31:28,499 And then, things go eerily quiet. 743 00:31:28,500 --> 00:31:30,374 [pensive dramatic music] 744 00:31:30,375 --> 00:31:32,041 - Hours pass, 745 00:31:32,042 --> 00:31:35,332 and finally, the police make the decision to storm the bank. 746 00:31:35,333 --> 00:31:36,166 [dramatic whooshing] 747 00:31:36,167 --> 00:31:38,250 They're expecting a firefight. 748 00:31:39,625 --> 00:31:42,207 But when they get in there, 749 00:31:42,208 --> 00:31:46,041 all they can find are hostages finishing off the pizza. 750 00:31:46,042 --> 00:31:49,082 No bank robbers anywhere in sight. 751 00:31:49,083 --> 00:31:50,832 What they do find? 752 00:31:50,833 --> 00:31:55,374 Discarded costumes, discarded toy guns. 753 00:31:55,375 --> 00:31:57,707 Now they're worried the bank robbers 754 00:31:57,708 --> 00:31:59,957 may be posing as hostages, 755 00:31:59,958 --> 00:32:01,957 and they sift through everybody, 756 00:32:01,958 --> 00:32:03,542 but they all seem to be legit. 757 00:32:05,167 --> 00:32:08,167 - It turns out that by the time the police storm the bank, 758 00:32:09,375 --> 00:32:13,541 the robbers are already back home counting their loot 759 00:32:13,542 --> 00:32:16,874 and watching with the rest of the nation on television. 760 00:32:16,875 --> 00:32:18,124 [dramatic whooshing] 761 00:32:18,125 --> 00:32:20,041 - The police start scouring the bank. 762 00:32:20,042 --> 00:32:21,957 They make their way to the vault 763 00:32:21,958 --> 00:32:23,999 where all the safety deposit boxes are, 764 00:32:24,000 --> 00:32:26,916 and they notice this giant hole in the wall 765 00:32:26,917 --> 00:32:29,583 that runs into the sewer system. 766 00:32:30,833 --> 00:32:32,666 - [Dan] What the police find is shocking, 767 00:32:32,667 --> 00:32:34,249 but that's just the beginning. 768 00:32:34,250 --> 00:32:35,874 On the other side of that hole 769 00:32:35,875 --> 00:32:39,042 is one of the most elaborate getaway plans ever conceived. 770 00:32:40,458 --> 00:32:44,874 - To escape via the sewers, they use inflatable motorboats, 771 00:32:44,875 --> 00:32:48,166 and to ensure there is enough water, 772 00:32:48,167 --> 00:32:51,666 they create a series of dams in the sewers 773 00:32:51,667 --> 00:32:53,249 to raise the water level. 774 00:32:53,250 --> 00:32:56,124 As crimes go, this is a masterpiece. 775 00:32:56,125 --> 00:32:57,374 [pensive dramatic music] 776 00:32:57,375 --> 00:32:58,999 - Another critical part of this plan 777 00:32:59,000 --> 00:33:02,874 is to target the safe deposit boxes in the vault. 778 00:33:02,875 --> 00:33:07,874 - Because Argentina had been rocked by a banking crisis, 779 00:33:07,875 --> 00:33:12,707 many wealthy patrons keep cash, bonds, 780 00:33:12,708 --> 00:33:16,957 American dollars, jewelry in safety deposit boxes. 781 00:33:16,958 --> 00:33:18,374 [intriguing dramatic music] 782 00:33:18,375 --> 00:33:19,416 - The best part? 783 00:33:19,417 --> 00:33:21,957 Much of the cash stored in these boxes 784 00:33:21,958 --> 00:33:25,124 is unreported and therefore untraceable. 785 00:33:25,125 --> 00:33:26,541 The crew has taken anywhere 786 00:33:26,542 --> 00:33:31,499 between eight and $80 million in cash and loot. 787 00:33:31,500 --> 00:33:32,749 [pensive dramatic music] 788 00:33:32,750 --> 00:33:34,124 - Before they left, 789 00:33:34,125 --> 00:33:37,541 they doused the entire scene in chlorine, 790 00:33:37,542 --> 00:33:40,249 and then they spread hair shavings 791 00:33:40,250 --> 00:33:42,582 that they've gotten from local barbers 792 00:33:42,583 --> 00:33:46,166 to confuse police if they're looking for DNA traces, 793 00:33:46,167 --> 00:33:49,041 designed to take them down a thousand rabbit holes. 794 00:33:49,042 --> 00:33:49,916 [dramatic thud] 795 00:33:49,917 --> 00:33:51,457 - [Dan] But in the end, 796 00:33:51,458 --> 00:33:53,375 even the most perfect crimes have their weak spots. 797 00:33:54,542 --> 00:33:56,666 - One of the masterminds, Beto de la Torre, 798 00:33:56,667 --> 00:34:00,250 is supposedly caught by his wife with another woman. 799 00:34:01,542 --> 00:34:04,749 She tries to extort money, not just from her husband, 800 00:34:04,750 --> 00:34:08,749 but from every person that was involved in the heist. 801 00:34:08,750 --> 00:34:11,707 Because she doesn't get what she feels she deserves, 802 00:34:11,708 --> 00:34:14,666 she ends up going to the police and turning him in. 803 00:34:14,667 --> 00:34:15,916 [pensive dramatic music] 804 00:34:15,917 --> 00:34:17,207 And that leads to the police 805 00:34:17,208 --> 00:34:19,916 capturing other members of the gang. 806 00:34:19,917 --> 00:34:21,166 [intriguing dramatic music] 807 00:34:21,167 --> 00:34:24,291 - The Banco Rio gang does do jail time, 808 00:34:24,292 --> 00:34:27,957 but because they used toy guns, 809 00:34:27,958 --> 00:34:31,166 they don't get very harsh sentences. 810 00:34:31,167 --> 00:34:32,874 And in the end, 811 00:34:32,875 --> 00:34:35,332 they'll all be known for accomplishing 812 00:34:35,333 --> 00:34:39,082 maybe the greatest bank heist in history, 813 00:34:39,083 --> 00:34:42,041 something that no court can take away. 814 00:34:42,042 --> 00:34:44,041 [intriguing dramatic music] 815 00:34:44,042 --> 00:34:45,541 - Perhaps the most unusual thing 816 00:34:45,542 --> 00:34:47,957 about this criminal feat is its inspiration. 817 00:34:47,958 --> 00:34:51,541 Supposedly the mastermind, Fernando Araujo, got the idea 818 00:34:51,542 --> 00:34:54,207 while watching "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," 819 00:34:54,208 --> 00:34:56,957 which explains using both the sewer and the pizza 820 00:34:56,958 --> 00:34:58,042 during the robbery. 821 00:35:02,125 --> 00:35:03,249 - Watching someone reach a lifelong goal 822 00:35:03,250 --> 00:35:05,124 is usually inspiring, 823 00:35:05,125 --> 00:35:06,874 but every now and then a feat is so strange, 824 00:35:06,875 --> 00:35:09,541 you're not sure whether to cheer or call for help. 825 00:35:09,542 --> 00:35:10,957 [intriguing dramatic music] [bees buzzing] 826 00:35:10,958 --> 00:35:13,374 - Here is a fellow named Gao Bingguo, 827 00:35:13,375 --> 00:35:15,707 calmly sitting in his underpants, 828 00:35:15,708 --> 00:35:17,874 voluntarily being covered 829 00:35:17,875 --> 00:35:20,374 in thousands and thousands of bees. 830 00:35:20,375 --> 00:35:21,666 [intriguing dramatic music] 831 00:35:21,667 --> 00:35:24,291 - This is an activity called bee wearing 832 00:35:24,292 --> 00:35:28,332 in which you just sit there as people cover you with bees, 833 00:35:28,333 --> 00:35:31,332 and you see how many bees you can handle 834 00:35:31,333 --> 00:35:33,041 before you tap out. 835 00:35:33,042 --> 00:35:34,374 [intriguing dramatic music] 836 00:35:34,375 --> 00:35:38,207 - Gao Bingguo's mission is to get the world record 837 00:35:38,208 --> 00:35:41,707 for the heaviest mantle of living bees 838 00:35:41,708 --> 00:35:43,874 worn by a human being. 839 00:35:43,875 --> 00:35:46,541 - [Dan] Gao might seem like the only one crazy enough 840 00:35:46,542 --> 00:35:47,832 to try this, 841 00:35:47,833 --> 00:35:50,041 but the tradition goes way back. 842 00:35:50,042 --> 00:35:51,332 - Bee wearing is a bizarre pastime, 843 00:35:51,333 --> 00:35:53,041 but it does have quite a history to it, 844 00:35:53,042 --> 00:35:54,291 it goes back 200 years. 845 00:35:54,292 --> 00:35:55,957 [intriguing orchestral music] 846 00:35:55,958 --> 00:35:57,624 One of the earliest bee wearers 847 00:35:57,625 --> 00:36:00,916 is a Ukrainian beekeeper named Petro Prokopovych. 848 00:36:00,917 --> 00:36:03,374 Petro is basically your Michael Jordan of beekeeping, 849 00:36:03,375 --> 00:36:04,874 he invents artificial hives. 850 00:36:04,875 --> 00:36:07,041 he's the one who first really starts to commercialize 851 00:36:07,042 --> 00:36:09,041 gathering and selling honey. 852 00:36:09,042 --> 00:36:12,082 He is the man that creates this industry. 853 00:36:12,083 --> 00:36:15,332 - In 1830, in an ingenious marketing campaign 854 00:36:15,333 --> 00:36:17,374 for his bee products, 855 00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:19,832 he starts putting on these demonstrations, 856 00:36:19,833 --> 00:36:22,874 showing people how many bees he can wear on his face. 857 00:36:22,875 --> 00:36:24,207 [intriguing upbeat music] 858 00:36:24,208 --> 00:36:26,082 - [Dan] Not only does it drum up business, 859 00:36:26,083 --> 00:36:29,542 it launches an entire sport of competitive bee wearing. 860 00:36:31,042 --> 00:36:33,041 And Gao is trying to outdo them all. 861 00:36:33,042 --> 00:36:34,249 [intriguing dramatic music] [bees buzzing] 862 00:36:34,250 --> 00:36:36,416 - The key to wearing thousands of bees 863 00:36:36,417 --> 00:36:39,457 is to start with a single bee, a queen. 864 00:36:39,458 --> 00:36:43,874 Queen honeybees communicate to the workers in their hive 865 00:36:43,875 --> 00:36:45,416 through pheromones, 866 00:36:45,417 --> 00:36:48,457 chemical signals that can draw them towards her 867 00:36:48,458 --> 00:36:50,207 in a swarming behavior. 868 00:36:50,208 --> 00:36:53,249 When Gao Bingguo goes for the record, 869 00:36:53,250 --> 00:36:56,291 he attaches dozens of queens in little cages 870 00:36:56,292 --> 00:36:58,082 all over his body. 871 00:36:58,083 --> 00:37:01,207 [pensive dramatic music] 872 00:37:01,208 --> 00:37:06,082 An estimated 1.1 million bees swarm over him 873 00:37:06,083 --> 00:37:08,916 in a full bee body suit. 874 00:37:08,917 --> 00:37:10,707 - Gao is a professional beekeeper, 875 00:37:10,708 --> 00:37:11,832 so he knows a few things 876 00:37:11,833 --> 00:37:13,791 to try and make this a little bit safer. 877 00:37:13,792 --> 00:37:15,374 For one thing, 878 00:37:15,375 --> 00:37:17,707 he knows to shower before going through this process, 879 00:37:17,708 --> 00:37:20,207 he's getting any sort of body odor off of him. 880 00:37:20,208 --> 00:37:21,457 He's also smoking, 881 00:37:21,458 --> 00:37:23,457 because the odor with his every breath 882 00:37:23,458 --> 00:37:24,832 is going to drive the bees away, 883 00:37:24,833 --> 00:37:27,249 so he doesn't end up getting some in his mouth. 884 00:37:27,250 --> 00:37:28,374 [tense dramatic music] 885 00:37:28,375 --> 00:37:29,749 - [Dan] He's got a strategy, sure, 886 00:37:29,750 --> 00:37:33,499 but 240 pounds of bees don't exactly play by the rules. 887 00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:35,291 [pensive dramatic music] 888 00:37:35,292 --> 00:37:36,541 - After two and a half hours, 889 00:37:36,542 --> 00:37:38,124 his external body temperature though, 890 00:37:38,125 --> 00:37:40,249 his skin, is piping hot, 891 00:37:40,250 --> 00:37:44,041 because he has over 2,000 bee stings. 892 00:37:44,042 --> 00:37:47,291 So, they then take him to a big old bucket of ice water 893 00:37:47,292 --> 00:37:48,416 and slowly submerge him in that 894 00:37:48,417 --> 00:37:50,874 to bring down that temperature. 895 00:37:50,875 --> 00:37:53,374 He survives, he's got his world record, 896 00:37:53,375 --> 00:37:54,541 he calls it a win. 897 00:37:54,542 --> 00:37:56,207 [pensive dramatic music] 898 00:37:56,208 --> 00:37:59,624 - Think wearing bees for hours takes focus? 899 00:37:59,625 --> 00:38:02,874 Try holding onto a vision for decades. 900 00:38:02,875 --> 00:38:03,749 [ethereal dramatic music] 901 00:38:03,750 --> 00:38:06,624 - It's mid 20th century in Colorado, 902 00:38:06,625 --> 00:38:09,166 and Jim Bishop is the teenager 903 00:38:09,167 --> 00:38:12,250 with a real love for ironworking. 904 00:38:13,292 --> 00:38:16,374 Jim had a hard time focusing in school. 905 00:38:16,375 --> 00:38:19,207 He's not what you would call conventional. 906 00:38:19,208 --> 00:38:21,666 One day his English teacher loses it 907 00:38:21,667 --> 00:38:25,124 and screams "Jim Bishop, you'll never amount to anything!" 908 00:38:25,125 --> 00:38:26,249 And he really took it to heart, 909 00:38:26,250 --> 00:38:28,374 and he dropped out at 15. 910 00:38:28,375 --> 00:38:33,082 - Jim is directionless, mowing lawns, doing odd jobs. 911 00:38:33,083 --> 00:38:35,541 One day, he's biking with his buddies, 912 00:38:35,542 --> 00:38:38,582 and in the midst of the Colorado wilderness, 913 00:38:38,583 --> 00:38:42,041 he finds this pristine plot of land, 914 00:38:42,042 --> 00:38:44,041 but it's got a price tag, 915 00:38:44,042 --> 00:38:46,541 his life savings, $450. 916 00:38:46,542 --> 00:38:48,041 [intriguing upbeat music] 917 00:38:48,042 --> 00:38:51,041 - At first, he thinks he's going to build a cottage, 918 00:38:51,042 --> 00:38:52,374 but as he gets to work, 919 00:38:52,375 --> 00:38:55,832 his vision starts to get a little grander, 920 00:38:55,833 --> 00:38:59,374 and he sees himself building not a home, 921 00:38:59,375 --> 00:39:01,374 but a castle. 922 00:39:01,375 --> 00:39:03,374 - [Dan] He's supposedly struck with a purpose. 923 00:39:03,375 --> 00:39:05,541 The only thing holding him back now? 924 00:39:05,542 --> 00:39:08,833 He has no more money or a formal architectural training. 925 00:39:10,083 --> 00:39:12,249 - He gets a day job at working iron, 926 00:39:12,250 --> 00:39:16,541 but by night, he's hauling three tons of rock 927 00:39:16,542 --> 00:39:18,499 to his personal job site. 928 00:39:18,500 --> 00:39:19,999 [intriguing orchestral music] 929 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:22,999 - And Jim's philosophy is that if it's not nailed down, 930 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:24,249 it's fair game. 931 00:39:24,250 --> 00:39:27,082 So there's bits of highway rubble, 932 00:39:27,083 --> 00:39:29,541 scrap from the local junkyard, 933 00:39:29,542 --> 00:39:32,624 even protected rocks from state parks. 934 00:39:32,625 --> 00:39:34,582 He gets by with what he can. 935 00:39:34,583 --> 00:39:37,749 No cranes, no heavy equipment, 936 00:39:37,750 --> 00:39:42,708 every single rock, every single beam is hand placed by Jim. 937 00:39:44,417 --> 00:39:49,166 - This incredible feat of engineering and stubbornness 938 00:39:49,167 --> 00:39:52,166 goes on for 40 years. 939 00:39:52,167 --> 00:39:54,082 - This is Bishop Castle. 940 00:39:54,083 --> 00:39:55,374 [dramatic triumphant music] 941 00:39:55,375 --> 00:39:58,500 - By the late '90s, it's got a soaring tower, 942 00:39:59,375 --> 00:40:01,082 a grand ballroom, 943 00:40:01,083 --> 00:40:02,750 stained-glass windows, 944 00:40:04,125 --> 00:40:07,874 there's even a giant fire- breathing steel dragon 945 00:40:07,875 --> 00:40:10,791 powered by an old hot air balloon. 946 00:40:10,792 --> 00:40:13,374 [flames roaring] 947 00:40:13,375 --> 00:40:14,541 - So at one point, 948 00:40:14,542 --> 00:40:15,874 the government decides 949 00:40:15,875 --> 00:40:18,374 that "This thing might not be up to code," 950 00:40:18,375 --> 00:40:21,374 but Jim decides to fight them in court 951 00:40:21,375 --> 00:40:23,749 and just drive them crazy. 952 00:40:23,750 --> 00:40:27,917 And eventually, the government just gives up. 953 00:40:29,417 --> 00:40:33,332 - Jim's castle becomes the destination. 954 00:40:33,333 --> 00:40:35,791 There are raves, there are parties, 955 00:40:35,792 --> 00:40:38,624 some people even book it for a wedding. 956 00:40:38,625 --> 00:40:41,624 Tourists still swamp this place day and night, 957 00:40:41,625 --> 00:40:43,667 and it's all free. 958 00:40:44,875 --> 00:40:46,082 Jim loves 959 00:40:46,083 --> 00:40:47,957 that people are actually getting to enjoy this thing 960 00:40:47,958 --> 00:40:48,958 that he made. 961 00:40:50,042 --> 00:40:53,166 - Sadly, Jim passes away from Parkinson's 962 00:40:53,167 --> 00:40:55,832 on November 21st, 2024. 963 00:40:55,833 --> 00:40:58,624 His son keeps the dream alive. 964 00:40:58,625 --> 00:41:02,332 But as of now, the castle still is not finished, 965 00:41:02,333 --> 00:41:04,499 probably just the way that Jim wanted. 966 00:41:04,500 --> 00:41:05,749 [intriguing orchestral music] 967 00:41:05,750 --> 00:41:08,166 - From a man who wears his weight in bees, 968 00:41:08,167 --> 00:41:09,749 to metal-eating Frenchmen, 969 00:41:09,750 --> 00:41:13,041 from super heists, to super fertile lions, 970 00:41:13,042 --> 00:41:16,249 these are the stories of feats so astonishing, 971 00:41:16,250 --> 00:41:17,833 they are truly "Unbelievable."